Can you help us find a new partner to continue vital peer support for adults living with bipolar and depression in Norwich?
Two members of our mental health peer support groups died by suicide in the past year. I don’t share this to shock but to recognise the very real impact these groups have had. Truthfully, I suspect this number could have been higher if not for the weekly peer support groups we’ve hosted at The Shoebox Community Hub in partnership with Voluntary Norfolk’s Better Together service over the past three years:
- A Bipolar Support Group (the only one we know of in Norwich)
- Different Day, a space for adults with depression, bipolar or both to share experiences and support one another in a relaxed, respectful environment
These are not clinical services. They’re warm, peer-led spaces for those who are ready for community support. But increasingly, we’re seeing people who are disillusioned with formal mental health services, stuck on long waiting lists and falling through the cracks.
With Norfolk County Council’s funding for Better Together Norfolk now ending and staff being made redundant, these groups are at risk. We’re not mental health specialists and can’t take this on alone – but we don’t want to let go without trying to find a solution.
What we can offer:
- Free use of our welcoming Shoebox Community Hub in the heart of Norwich
- A friendly team to meet and support group members
- Two well-established, well-attended peer support groups
What we need:
- A community-based mental health organisation (ideally already funded)
- Able to provide a trained facilitator and take safeguarding responsibility
This is a low-cost, high-impact opportunity. Just a few hours a week from the right partner could prevent crisis and reduce the strain on already overstretched services.
If your organisation can help, or if you know someone who might, please get in touch. These groups matter. Let’s not let them disappear quietly.